RENAISSANCE (1350-1550)The Intellectual and Artistic Renaissance

Mrs. Brahe

World History II

OBJECTIVES

Introduce humanism as the most important intellectual movement of the Renaissance

Emphasize the great artists and sculptors of the High Renaissance period Michelangelo Raphael Leonardo da Vinci (Bernini statues)

HUMANISM

Secularism and emphasis on the individual Humanism: based on the study of the classics

(literary works of ancient Greece and Rome) grammar, rhetoric, poetry, moral philosophy,

history Now called “humanities”

Used pure classical Latin Later writers began to use vernacular (language

of their region – like German, French, Italian) Masterpieces written in vernacular languages

Italian: Dante’s Divine Comedy (journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Heaven)

English: Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales (portrays all levels of English society – stories of pilgrims)

EDUCATION

Liberal Studies History, moral philosophy, eloquence (or rhetoric),

letters (grammar and logic), poetry, mathematics, astronomy, and music

Goal: virtue and wisdom Physical Education

Javelin throwing, archery, dancing, running, wrestling, hunting and swimming

Women Rarely admitted to schools Studied classics, history, learned to ride, dance,

sing, play the lute, and appreciate poetry No mathematics or rhetoric Religion and morals were foremost for “Christian

ladies to become good mothers and wives”

THE ARTISTIC RENAISSANCE IN ITALY

Goal: reality of objects or events, imitate nature Human beings were the focus (“center and measure

of all things”) New Techniques

Frescos: painting done on fresh, wet plaster with water-based paints Expert – Masaccio (muh ZAH chee oh) of Florence Human figures previously looked flat, now have depth Perspective gives the illusion of 3 dimensions, realistic style

Technical side of painting (perspective & organization of outdoor space and light through geometry)

Investigation of movement and human anatomy (individual person, human nude as an art form)

Donatello – sculptor, realistic freestanding figures (above)

THE TRIBUTE MONEY BY MASACCIO

FAMOUS ITALIAN ARTISTS OF THE HIGH RENAISSANCE (1490-1520)

Leonardo da VinciRealistic paintings, scientist – dissected human

bodiesYet also stressed idealism (capture perfection of

nature and the individual) Raphael

Madonnas (paintings of the Virgin Mary) ideal beauty

Frescoes in the Vatican Palace (School of Athens – world of balance, harmony, and order)

Michelangelo Painter, sculpture, architectCeiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome – ideal type of

human being with perfect proportionsMore beautiful body = more god-like the figure

SCHOOL OF ATHENS BY RAPHAEL

THE CREATION OF ADAM BY MICHELANGELO – CEILING OF THE SISTINE CHAPEL IN VATICAN CITY

NORTHERN ARTISTIC RENAISSANCE

Low Countries (now Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands) Gothic cathedrals with stained windows not conducive

to fresco paintings of the Italians Illustrations for books, wooden panels for altarpieces Much smaller scale

Flanders (a low country) Jan van Eyck (EYEK) Flemish painter

Among first to use oil paint, wide variety of colors and fine details

Imitated nature by observing reality and portraying those details

Fiovanni Arnolfini and His Bride Albrecht Durer

German artist, two trips to Italy Ideal beauty based on careful examination of the human form Adoration of the Magi

FIOVANNI ARNOLFINI AND HIS BRIDE BY JAN VAN EYCK